Happenings

Race For Green

BY Burnpavement

An alternative Grand Prix of its own kind took place at the Float@Marina Bay on 19th September 2010.

Organised by the Singapore Environmental Council (SEC), the Singapore G1 helped raise the awareness of greener mobility options, encouraging the development and use of green technologies in transportation as well as the use of public transportation in an effort to reduce carbon emissions.

Highlighting the environmental impact of urban transportation in a fun and novel way were a series of carbon-neutral races that took place on part of the Formula One track of the Singapore street circuit.

Heralded as the 'Green Grand Prix', the Singapore G1 consisted of races such as the Trishaw Race, Buggy Race, SHELL Eco Car Race and last but not the least the Soap Box Derby which was won by a five man team from Greenridge Secondary School, clocking an impressive 16.48 seconds over 100 metres to clinch the top prize of Best Overall Speed which was keenly contested by 28 secondary schools.

The soap box cars constructed from recyclable plastic, are propelled by the law of physics, using only the pull of gravity and inertia to race down a 3.5 metres long ramp before going a distance of 100 metres.

With the success of this year's inaugural event, the Singapore G1 is slated to be an annual event with foreign teams expected to participate in next year's race.